Pacers finding surprising silver lining amid early-season struggles

The Pacers' defense is still looking solid despite the team going through its hardships.

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle during a game against the Golden State Warriors. | Eakin Howard/GettyImagesEven though they are without Myles Turner and were without Andrew Nembhard for most of the beginning weeks of the season, the Indiana Pacers still rank as an above-average defense.

A few weeks into the season, Indiana's 114 DRTG ranks as the 11th-best in the NBA currently, according to Basketball Reference. The Pacers have never been known as a defensive team under head coach Rick Carlisle, but they drastically turned things around at the turn of the calendar. And now, it is looking like one…